Find a seat out of the draught, or else the leathers will be blown all over the room. Have near a deep basket or box in which to put them. Lay the bird on your knee, hold it in place with the left hand, and begin pulling off the feathers from the wings first. Give the feathers a backward pull, they come out more easily. When the wings are bare next pluck the back, lastly the breast; this is because the skin over the breast is thinner and more easily rubbed and torn.

No. 3. - Securing the wings in position, turning the pinions underneath

Supposing a bird has to be feathered very quickly, dip it into a bucket of hot, but not boiling, water for about a minute, and then pluck it. Only do this in some special emergency, because it renders the skin very tender and easily torn, and tears greatly detract from the appearance of the bird: